Methods and compositions for improved fertilization and embryonic survival

Abstract

Single nucleotide polymorphic sites at positions 19069 and 25402 of the bovine STAT3 gene are associated with improved fertilization rate and/or improved embryo survival rate. The interactions between these two polymorphisms, and between them and the bovine STAT1 gene and fertilization and early embryonic survival rates were also disclosed. The interactions between STAT3 SNPs, and between STAT1 and STAT3 SNP19069 were highly significant for embryonic survival rate. Also disclosed are nucleic acid molecules, kits, methods of genotyping and marker assisted bovine breeding methods.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for selectively breeding cattle, the method comprising superovulating a female bovine animal, collecting eggs from said superovulated female, in vitro fertilizing said eggs using sperm from a suitable male animal, developing said fertilized eggs into embryos, determining the identity of a nucleotide of a STAT3 gene of the embryo at a position corresponding to position 7342 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the STAT3 gene comprises a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, and implanting into a suitable female bovine animal a developing embryo that comprises the STAT3 gene of which does not homozygously have A at position 7342 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining the identity of a nucleotide of the bovine STAT1 gene corresponding to position 213 of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the STAT1 gene comprises a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 and wherein the implanted embryo does not homozgously have C at position 213 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining the identity of a nucleotide of the bovine STAT3 gene of the embryo at a position corresponding to position 1009 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the implanted embryo does not homozygously have G at position 1009 of SEQ ID NO: 1. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising determining the identity of a nucleotide of the bovine STAT3 gene at a position corresponding to position 1009 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and determining the identity of a nucleotide of the bovine STAT1 gene at a position corresponding to position 213 of SEQ ID NO 2, and wherein the implanted embryo does not homozygously have G at position 1009 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and does not homogzyously have C at position 213 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by obtaining a nucleic acid sample from the embryo. 
     
     
       6. The method according, to  claim 5 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by sequencing. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by obtaining a nucleic acid sample from the embryo. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by sequencing. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by obtaining a nucleic acid sample from the embryo. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by sequencing. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by obtaining a nucleic acid sample from the embryo. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the identity of the nucleotide is determined by sequencing.